Thanksgiving in the Hospital

Thursday, November 27

I am thankful for....  There are so many things to be thankful for this year.  I am most thankful for family, friends and a God that loves us.  I am also thankful that Tyler is slowly rebounding back.  

After 2 days in the hospital, Tyler still has a 103 temperature and his blood counts are at O but he has finally stopped throwing up.  This is a huge thank you.  The doctor's determined that he had mucositis, which is the painful inflammation of the mucus lining and a bacterial infection. This was the reason he was throwing up blood.  He is on different antibiotics to help fight the infection. He is swollen and looks like he has gained 40 pounds but it is from the retention of fluids in his body. Sarah said this is called water poisoning when there are too many fluids and the blood thins.  They cut back his TPN nutrients. He has had to have a blood transfusion because of his thinning of the blood.  His kidneys are not responding well either but the doctor's are monitoring him very closely. He has sores in his mouth, throat and esophagus.

They are hoping his counts will start rising tomorrow and he will feel better.  He is scheduled for chemo again on Tuesday but he will have to be 100% for that to happen.  His body is taking longer to bounce back after chemo so this pushes his treatment later and later to being completed.  He is on a morphine pump to regulate his pain ( the sores in his esophagus makes his chest hurts).  Sarah and Charles can't imagine how Tyler can take much more but they turn it over everyday to God to handle it for them.  This is Hard!  I can't imagine how hard since it is not happening to me.  I feel helpless also.  I asked Sarah what can we do as friends for Tyler.  Her response....PRAY!

I encourage all of you to continue to pray for Tyler.  Please fell free to send him cards as that really cheers him up.  The Finnesand family sent a bouquet of balloons to Tyler at the hospital and that was fun! The Ross' extended family cooked Thanksgiving dinner and Sarah and Charles took a break from the hospital (separately of course) to eat. Friends are a blessing and we are so thankful for friends!  Stay close!  Kim

Back to the Hospital

Tuesday, November 25

Tyler was feeling so bad he went to the hospital to be checked out. He had a 103 temperature and was admitted. When will Tyler feel better? How much more can he take? The doctor's feel he may have an infection because he has been so sick. He hasn't felt well for 12 days. He has been nauseous and throwing up every day but one. He has also been throwing up blood which is such a concern for Sarah and Charles. Hopefully the hospital staff will be able to help him. His body is badly battered from the chemo and he needs relief. This is a serious time for Tyler. Join me tonight in an earnest plea to God for a speedy recovery. God has answered our prayers before and He will again. PRAY!

I will keep you posted. Stay close! Kim

Finally Feeling Better

Thursday, November 20

FINALLY Tyler is feeling better. After a week of throwing up, hovering over a bucket, lying in bed and eating nothing it is about time. He was enjoying some video game time with his uncle Aaron today. Thank you God. Sarah said this is the sickest he has been since he started chemo and she is so thankful he may be over the hump. Sarah and Charles are celebrating two things tonight, Tyler feeling better and their anniversary. They are celebrating by going out to eat dinner and to a movie.

Tyler still needs to be covered with prayer on a daily basis. He has a difficult road that we must help him get to the end of. He is a wonderful example of commitment, strength and endurance. He never complains about his situation but works hard to overcome it and win. He has a driven force, his family, friends but mostly God is on his side. Stay close! Kim

A season of Thankfulness

Monday, November 17

I always feel so thankful after talking with Sarah. I am thankful for healthy children and a normal life. These 2 things Sarah can't wait to enjoy again. I just pray it will be soon!

Tyler went for his chemo treatment on Thursday and returned home late on Sunday. He hasn't eaten in 5 days and has constantly been throwing up. Sarah said this is the worse he has been and he is so very weak.The chemo has made his incision from the surgery reverse it's healing process. His wound care nurse will have to examine it tomorrow and dress it because it is opening up again and that is not good news. He is still wearing his brace but hasn't had any more movement with his leg. It still only measures at 10%. He had a EKO and a EKG this week to check his heart and hearing. His heart is in good shape but he has lost 10% of his hearing. He cannot hear high pitched noises. The cisplatin can cause serious heart and hearing damage so they constantly monitor Tyler in these areas. The good news is he completed the last round of this drug last week so they are hopeful that his hearing will not worsen. The hardest part of chemo is "killing the cancer and not killing the child." They are powerful drugs!!!!!

Tyler received 2 packages today from his friends. The cross country team sent him a package along with his 8th grade friends from school. Sarah said he was so weak today he couldn't even open the packages but he enjoyed some of the notes from his friends. They really brighten his day. Thanks friends for sending them!!!!!!!!

Sarah is hoping Tyler will feel better soon. It usually takes about 11 days for his counts to completely drop and but when they start to rise again, Tyler will have a few good days. He has to peel #8 from the chemo wall and then there will be 7 more treatments to go! YIPEE!!!!!! The family may get to come to Louisville for a couple of days. They take life one day at a time and count their blessings every day.

During this season of Thanksgiving, remember the One who gives us life. Thank him daily for your family and others especially the Hanson family!
Stay close! Kim

Two Thirds of the Way

Monday, November 10

Can you believe it is November already? I think most of you will agree that time passes way too quickly. Everyone except Tyler or anyone else going through a cancer treatment program. Tyler and his family are celebrating that they are two-thirds of the way through his treatment. Only 12 more weeks of treatment! Hurray!!!!! He finished week 16 and will begin week 17 this Wednesday. He is feeling well but very tired. His physical therapy is moving slow. He can only bend his leg about 10% but they are hoping by the end of this week he will be bending it 30%. I am amazed how well he is progressing considering the severity of his surgery and the chemo treatments on top that. Tyler shows such determination and strength when his body is so weak. I have had people tell me how much they admire him when they experience a 24 hour stomach virus. Tyler has been experiencing a 51/2 month stomach virus plus more. Pray for continued strength, endurance and healing and for his future treatments to be on schedule with no interruptions or complications.

Tyler received a nice visit and surprise yesterday. Two volunteers from Make-A-Wish, Adriane Kraus and Joyce Hall and their families, came with goody bags for the 3 boys and paperwork to apply for Tyler's wish. After thinking about it for a while, Tyler decided his first choice would be to visit Japan. His ancestors and family are Japanese and the best way to learn about his own heritage is to visit. Since this is a big "wish" they asked for a second choice in case it was too expensive to grant. His second wish is to go on a Disney cruise. Either trip would be amazing and something to look forward to. The family wouldn't want to go until he was fully recovered so that he could enjoy it. It could happen as early as spring break or during the summer. Make-A-Wish is an amazing foundation with amazing volunteers that care so much for children.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever...Psalm 100:4-5 Let us remember to give thanks on a daily basis for the good and bad because God is in control!
Stay close! Kim

Stitiches Out!

Monday, November 3



It has been a week or so since I posted news about Tyler's progress. Sorry for the delay!



Tyler is at the hospital today having his stitches removed from his leg. He will be put under anesthesia because some the the stitches are deep in his muscle. It will be painful so it is better for Tyler to be asleep. The doctors removed the cast last Friday and he will be put back in his brace. His brace has two metal pieces on the side and open in the front. It has dials that can change the angle of his leg. The angle will increase over time until he can bend it all the way. He has physical therapy to help with the movement also. After he wakes up from this procedure today, he will have tutoring and physical therapy. The days get longer and longer at the hospital to get in everything that he needs to do.



School work is going slow. He does a great job when he is at the hospital with his tutor. He sees him 3 times a week but when he is at home Sarah said he gets very little done. Mainly because he hasn't felt well. He received high doses of methotrexate last Friday (10/24). He was in bed until this Friday (10/31). His body is so beaten down from all of the drugs that it is harder to recover from the chemo.



Halloween was a fun night for the Hanson kids. They went to the Ross' neighborhood to trick-o-treat. Elijah dressed in a purple cape that covered his head and body and had a black mesh face. Sarah said she thinks he was a purple ghost. Tyler dressed as a large skeleton bobble head. It was hilarious. The skeleton head was rather large and he looked out through the mouth. He wore a cape over his head and body. He didn't feel so great so he went to a couple of houses and then helped hand out candy. Christian had a nice transformer outfit but decided he wasn't dressing up.



On Saturday, Sarah and Charles took the kids camping. When Tyler was younger, they camped all of the time. Elijah had never been camping so they headed to a nice area in Arkansas that wasn't too far to drive. It was cold at night but the weather was nice during the day. It was great to get away and enjoy being a family together and having fun. Tyler was feeling better so they took advantage and got away.



Today is a sad day for the family because Alli and Aiko (Sarah's sister and niece) is leaving after 7 weeks. She is returning to Arizona. They hope she will return during the Christmas holiday. They will miss her so much!!!! She has been a huge help to the family.

The Finnesand's are traveling south this extended weekend and are stopping in Memphis tonight to see the family on their return home to Louisville. Tyler will have a long day at the hospital but I know he will enjoy hanging out with Clay, Chad and Jenna tonight.

The Hanson's hope to come to Louisville in the next month or so for a weekend to visit. It all depends on Tyler's treatment. His chemo treatment is pushed back another week. His liver enzymes were extremely high this past week so his chemo was pushed back until next week. Liver enzymes should be at a 40 and Tyler's were as high as 1100 last week. This is such a bummer for the family because they are counting down his weeks of treatment. Charles has made a countdown wall. Tyler has 9 more chemo treatments. They celebrate every time they tear down a number and get closer to the end.

Tyler still has a tough road to travel.. The chemo has battered his body down and it takes longer to get over his treatments. Continue to pray for him to recover quickly and to stay on track to be completely healed of this cancer. He will have extensive physical therapy to get his leg operating like normal. Charles has taken a leave of absence without pay so finances are tight. The family is appreciative of all the support and continued prayer. They continue to be patient and put their faith and hope in the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint". His strength is our strength! Thank you Lord!
Stay close! Kim